VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova Wildcats have won seven of their last eight games since the start of December (10-5 overall, 3-1 BIG EAST). On Wednesday evening, the challenge grows, though as two-time NCAA champion UConn – winners of eight straight – makes just its second appearance on Villanova's campus since 1995.
 
The Wildcats and Huskies (12-3 overall, 4-0 BIG EAST) will battle beginning at 6:30 p.m. FS1 will carry the game nationally with Dave Sims and Donny Marshall providing the commentary. The Villanova Sports Network on IHeart (Fox Sports Philadelphia and Sirius XM channel 383) with Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby courtside.
 
UConn moved up to No. 9 in this week's Associated Press poll. It rallied past Providence 87-84 Sunday on its home court. Hassan Diarra led the way with 19 points.
 
Villanova, meanwhile, was firing on all cylinders on Saturday, when it downed DePaul 100-56. The Wildcats converted 37-of-62 from the field (.597), the eighth time in 15 outings this season that Nova has connected on 50 percent or more of its attempts from the floor.
 
Perhaps as encouraging as the offensive work were the defensive strides the Wildcats showed last week, rallying past Butler Wednesday before building a big lead in the early moments against DePaul. The Blue Demons were just 20-of-60 from the field (.333).
 
"We've just got to remain humble and hungry," stated Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune. "We have a lot of talent on this team, guys that can do a lot of different things offensively. If we get in a groove, we can make some shots.
 
"You look at our numbers defensively (Saturday), and they were right where we want them. That's what we've got to look to continue to do in the second half of the season. There's a lot of basketball left to play."
 
Eric Dixon, the nation's leading scorer, continued his fine work, leading the way with 25 points. He averages 25.9 points per game in 14 outings and has climbed into 12^th place on the Wildcats' all-time scoring list (1,862 points), three shy of Ed Pinckney (1,865). The Willow Grove, Pa., native grabbed his 800^th career carom against the Blue Demons, making him one of only five VU players with 1,800 or more points and 800 or more rebounds (Howard Porter, John Pinone, Pinckney and Jost Hart are the others).
 
The Huskies swept two meetings last season and have taken the last four in the series between the teams. This is just the second meeting on campus since January 1995 and the first one with a capacity crowd on hand. The teams met in February 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic in an empty facility. All other UConn trips to face the Wildcats in the interim took place in South Philadelphia at the Spectrum or Wells Fargo Center. 
 
"We're getting better," said Neptune after Tuesday's final practice session ahead of the matchup Wednesday. "We had nine newcomers to start the season and I think we're starting to come together as a team. The goal now is to continue to get better.
 
"We're looking forward to playing. All of us, players and coaches, do this because we love it. We're competition junkies and this promises to be a great test for our team against an outstanding opponent."